Archive | Jazz Crossroads

In Jeff Turton’s words…

“I have spent 35 years programming Jazz on Boston radio stations. Starting in the late 70’s at public radio station WBUR and at Emerson College at WERS. I did fill-in work at WGBH for a couple of decades for people like Eric Jackson and Ron Della Chiesa and in 1983, along with a bunch of radio professionals with big dreams, we got Boston’s first Alternative Rock station off the ground (though we didn’t really know what we were creating in the beginning because there was not an alternative format at the time) . He programmed Jazz on Sunday’s for 8 hours each week for more than 27 years. The program was very successful because of the hybrid approach we took to the programming of the music.

I have always thought that music thrived at the Crossroads, where many influences converge and develop and then move off on their own to provide their own perspectives. The Jazz Brunch was the only show on Boston radio that actively brought the influences from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa into the music mix and drawing their parallels to Jazz. Jazz Crossroads will also journey to New Orleans during the last hour.

New Orleans is truly the crossroads for music in this country. It has an incredibly unique culture with influences from Africa and the Caribbean and the beginnings of Jazz at it’s heart. I have spent the last 20 years since Katrina deeply involved in learning about that music and culture and am hoping it adds a little spice the Jazz Crossroads mix.

I am a recording engineer when not wearing my programming hat. I have spent much of that career in recording studios in the 80’s and then in newsrooms across the public radio system providing production help and also working with shows providing content for public radio. I have also spent many years in the TV and Sports production world as both an A1 and A2 engineer. These were my Crossroads and I like to think they have all added to my individual approach to music programming.”

Feel free to get in touch with Jeff via e-mail to let him know your thoughts about his show or even if you just fancy a shout out! jeff@soulandjazz.com.

Stereo, not stereotypical

Enjoy!